Thread: Straight Razors vs Double Edge Razors

A DE machined razor blade is sharper but also much less forgiving. Three pass shaves with my 2011 Muhle R41 and feather blade are closer. Mainly due to the difficulty of shaving ATG under the jawline with a straight razor.

Straight razors are capable of giving an extremely smooth shave when honed properly. Shaving with STR8's also have a cool factor that can't be attained with a DE razor. I get much more self satisfaction from shaving, honing, and maintaining a S.R. compared to a DE razor.

Originally Posted by feltspanky

A DE machined razor blade is sharper but also much less forgiving. Three pass shaves with my 2011 Muhle R41 and feather blade are closer. Mainly due to the difficulty of shaving ATG under the jawline with a straight razor.

Straight razors are capable of giving and extremely smooth shave when honed properly. Shaving with STR8's also have a cool factor that can't be attained with a DE razor. I get much more self satisfaction from shaving, honing, and maintaining a S.R. compared to a DE razor.

My R101 (R41 with black handle) is my only DE razor that comes close to my straight shaves - but the results in no way surpass my straight shaves.

I do admit though that the jawline problem needs an ATG touch-up pass to get me there.
Took my quite some time to figure out how to do it, but once I did the R101 had lost its pole position.

I should mention though that a straight shave takes me 15 mins longer, but with the satisfaction that I get from a close, smooth straight shave I consider that a price worth paying.


B.

No doubt about it in my opinion, a DE blade feels sharper because it is so much thinner - as has already been pointed out. I'm going against the grain here because I can get just as close a shave with DE, SE, Feather and straight razors - providing I put the same effort into preparation.

As to your question about 30k grit honing - remember that the sharpness of a blade is established at the bevel set - you could almost say that when the two sides of the bevel meet, you can't get any sharper. Subsequent honing on higher grits makes the bevels ( and therefore the edge) smoother and smoother - but is this making the edge sharper? Finally, stropping on whatever your favoured medium is, does this add to sharpness - I think so, but would not be able to demonstrate why or how, if called upon.

My conclusion therefore is that a well manufactured DE blade and a well honed/stropped straight edge are as sharp as each other - the DE blade 'feels' sharper in the shave because it is so much thinner than the straight.

thanks Gents,

I forgot to take the thinness of a DE razor into consideration. I think I got it now

Just to make it as clear as mud some research done suggests that the edge can be honed to the same or similar thickness as a DE blade. In this study he uses a Gillette DE blade. Google or search here for Verhoeven paper. Here is an excerpt from it.

"Measurements of the edge width averaged out at 0.4 microns, which was essentially the same as found for the Gillette blade"

DE = sharper, closer shave
Straight = smoother, cooler shave

I can get a BBS shave on my scalp ANY time I wish using my DE. Blades have to be sharper, imo. YMMV

My straight razor shaves are remarkably better that any DE shave I've ever gotten ... but, that's just me!

A DE will never match a straight no matter how close they are to each other. With a straight the blade is directly on the skin and you can custom adjust that blade to match your requirements. You have much less adjustability with a safety razor.

I have both. I am just learning with a SR. I can get a SR quality shave with my Merkur future DE razor. I am sarting to notice that the SR shave feels smoother and last longer. On my work days I shave with my DE in the morning and in the evening I practice with the SR.

The DE blades are probably sharper being machine made. In technicality they should shave better and smoother, but in reality The SR will be a better quality shave in the end.

I think the research supports that the width of the edge of a de and a straight can be the same. See my post above. To say people just won't admit otherwise is inaccurate. The data is there for all to read. Now, I have noticed that many many people are fine with an edge that is less than this and some prefer it but to say that people just won't admit that it can't be done, again, is inaccurate.

i have absolutely no problem admitting that you can get just as great of a shave from a DE and dare I say cartridge razor with proper technique. That statement doesn't detract from my experience with a straight. I shaved with a shavette and DE for years before coming here and loved it. Once I transitioned to a straight I have never went back to DE, shavette, or cartridge razors. That is saying something but to each their own.